South African media figure Gareth Cliff has stirred some controversy by saying he would rather negotiate with former president Jacob Zuma than current president Cyril Ramaphosa.
If given the choice between Cyril Ramaphosa and Jacob Zuma, Cliff would choose the former because “with Jacob Zuma you know what you are dealing with.” Since the two current and former South African presidents have such different public personas and political philosophies, the comment has garnered a lot of attention.
It seems that the honesty and consistency of political leadership are at the heart of Cliff’s comments. He implies that “you know what you are dealing with” when he says he prefers to be in Zuma’s presence. Cliff was drawing a comparison between Ramaphosa’s political style and what he regards as an easier or more direct approach.
The newsreader has a history of publicly criticising political figures and policies in South African politics. Cliff attacked the president’s administration and cast doubt on parts of the government’s response to the COVID-19 shutdown in an open letter he sent to Ramaphosa in 2020.
Ramaphosa and Zuma have been at opposite ends of South Africa’s political spectrum in recent times. From 2009 until his resignation in February 2018, Zuma was president. He resigned in response to mounting criticism from within the African National Congress. After becoming president, Ramaphosa was portrayed by the ANC as a figurehead in the fight to restore public institutions and settle claims related to the so-called “state capture” era.
Many people felt strongly about the change from Zuma to Ramaphosa. According to academic studies of the 2019 election cycle, certain members of the public felt renewed optimism after Ramaphosa’s ascent to power, whereas Zuma’s presidency was largely associated with claims of state capture and poor leadership.
Cliff has recently made a statement, but it does not mean he approves of Zuma’s record. Instead, the emphasis in his writing is squarely on his encounters with the two politicians and how he perceived their stances and goals.
Throughout his life, Cliff has made controversial political comments that have sparked heated controversy in South Africa. His remarks on Zuma and Ramaphosa will undoubtedly elicit reactions from those who support or oppose both political leaders.
The parallel is all the more striking given that Ramaphosa is still in office and heads the African National Congress, and Zuma is still a major player in South African politics via the uMkhonto weSizwe Party. Recent political criticism in South Africa has also brought attention to Zuma’s enduring political influence, especially in KwaZulu-Natal and among MK Party members.
Another discussion regarding governmental leadership, communication, and public trust in South Africa has been sparked by Cliff’s statement. The comment by the broadcaster shows how various people in South Africa see the character and leadership style of the two most recent presidents, Zuma and Ramaphosa, even if views on both are still very divided.